Coach Box week 7: Coach Dakota

ESPN is making its return in 2014, partnering with Night Owls to get an outlook from some of our coaches in the league. "Coach Box" has been asking the tough questions and allowing our coaches to talk candidly about their squads. All questions are asked by an anonymous, fictitious, totally made up ESPN analyst from NCAA 11 and are, under no circumstances, a personal attack or inquiry. Nor does my possibly narrow-minded and irrational analyst, necessarily, reflect my personal opinions or views. Coaches are in no way required to respond with anything more than.... NO COMMENT. But just know that you are not a good, tough coach unless you answer the hard, tough question.​

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***Coach Box: Week 7***​

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Coach Dakota Please:​

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"Coach, we are happy to finally get to talk to you hear in the 5th season. Your team has been so close but you've never taken the next step to getting back to the Rose Bowl. ​

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First question is a 2 part question. How is your fanbase responding to you not having been back, with some of the top talents in the country coming through every year. Especially when you were favored the past 2 seasons, is there backlash from Eugene? Also with that, has UCLA really been that good, or was it your own fault falling apart down the stretch? ​

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Secondly, this again seems like the year for the Ducks, or maybe the Cats (who still have yet to win a Pac 10 Title, but have been getting closer). After beating UCLA down, do you think you have the best team, and are you winning the conference this season? ​

And lastly, you've been the Coach of the Ducks a fair time now. How are you holding up as a coach? Are you enjoying your stay in Eugene? After the surprise replacement of Chip Kelly after the Rose Bowl loss to OSU, you came in and were seen around the country as regressing over the next 2 seasons with the Ducks, but your administration hasn't lost faith in you, and now it's paying off. What do you have to say to your school for sticking with you?"​

"Coach, we are happy to finally get to talk to you hear in the 5th season. Your team has been so close but you've never taken the next step to getting back to the Rose Bowl.

Well, that’s not exactly true. We won the Pac-10 title our second year in Eugene, however took a painful simulated loss to Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.

First question is a 2 part question. How is your fanbase responding to you not having been back, with some of the top talents in the country coming through every year. Especially when you were favored the past 2 seasons, is there backlash from Eugene? Also with that, has UCLA really been that good, or was it your own fault falling apart down the stretch?

While we have only made it to the Rose Bowl once, we do have two BCS bowl wins to our credit, the 2011 Sugar Bowl and the 2013 Orange Bowl. However, you’re right. Our fans want Rose Bowl wins….everything else is secondary.

UCLA has been for real, what can I say? They are extremely well coached and have gotten the most out of their players. Of course, we always look in the mirror and try to improve from within. Minimizing mistakes and maximizing all opportunities would’ve gone a long way the last two years against UCLA.

Secondly, this again seems like the year for the Ducks, or maybe the Cats (who still have yet to win a Pac 10 Title, but have been getting closer). After beating UCLA down, do you think you have the best team, and are you winning the conference this season?

We certainly like our chances, but its too early to declare a favorite at this point. We will have a real test traveling down to Arizona. We get lucky and have USC and Oregon State at home.

And lastly, you've been the Coach of the Ducks a fair time now. How are you holding up as a coach? Are you enjoying your stay in Eugene? After the surprise replacement of Chip Kelly after the Rose Bowl loss to OSU, you came in and were seen around the country as regressing over the next 2 seasons with the Ducks, but your administration hasn't lost faith in you, and now it's paying off. What do you have to say to your school for sticking with you?"

I love it in Eugene. I’m not sure how a 23-3 record, a Pac-10 title and a Sugar Bowl win in our first 2 seasons is regressing, but there is always room to improve. Wait a minute what are you trying to do here? Who are you?...........Bill O’Reilly? I’m out of here.

23-3....for reals? Where has that reporter been? It DOES point out in my description paragraph that the ESPN reporters may be possibly narrow minded and irrational....but sheesh. What a dope that guy is!

23-3....for reals? Where has that reporter been? It DOES point out in my description paragraph that the ESPN reporters may be possibly narrow minded and irrational....but sheesh. What a dope that guy is!